Deep Green Project of the Week: Homemade Re-useable Napkins

Pregnant with her first baby, my sister and brother-in-law are slimming down their spending and finding creative ways to save their hard-earned paychecks for the expensive miracle arriving in July. Committed to make the world more green, I've decided to take on a green project each week that will help them save money and the environment. I couldn't be happier for the upcoming arrival of my niece or nephew, and instilling green values into his or her life early on is important (and probably why the next generation will be more green than ours). 

What will I take on this week? 10"x10" re-usable napkins with a laundry bag for easy clean up. These make great gifts, and can help you save a lot of money on paper napkins and paper towels each year. I'm no seamstress, so if you need to learn how to sew check out a video on YouTube (which I will probably do, too!). 

• Pick your favorite fabric (make sure that it will be able to absorb spills); A square-yard of fabric will make 9 napkins (two yards if you want to make them double-sided). Cut the yard of fabric into square-foot sections and hem the edge of each side. 

• If you'd like double-sided napkins, place a square foot of fabric pattern-face down and pin back 1/2 inch hems along all four sides. Do the same to another square foot of fabric, put them together (hems facing in), and sew along the edges. 

• Sew yourself a drawstring bags from the remaining fabric, and place the napkins in it when they get dirty. Toss the entire bag into the wash when you are finished. If the weather is nice, hand wash and hang the napkins dry outside. 

Want to save even more money? Buy your fabric at a consignment or secondhand store. They often have old sheets and pieces of fabric that would be perfect for this project:

• Savers
• Goodwill
• The Salvation Army

Stay tuned for pictures of the project! Please let Deep Green Collective know if you try the project, and how it went for you. 

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Each moment is an opportunity to grow. Those who seek satisfaction in worldly pleasures will never truly find happiness.